Deborah Somorin – Keynote Speaker

Deborah Somorin is a Qualified Chartered Accountant and Manager in EY’s People Consulting team, serving large Irish and Global clients. Deborah is also a published author of two books, an autobiography called Believing in Me and a children’s book called I Believe in You. She completed a degree in Accounting and Finance in DCU in 2014. She then went on to complete a Masters in Accounting in DCU in 2015 which helped earn her a place at a Big 4 firm. She received two scholarships while at university to enable her to complete her studies.

In 2018, Deborah Somorin founded a not for profit called Empower the Family (ETF). ETF an Approved Housing Body, is working with Dublin City Council to deliver Ireland’s First Social Student Housing Development. The development will provide student accommodation to disadvantaged students attending university in North Dublin, with a particular focus on supporting single parents with onsite childcare and state care leavers between 18-23. This social enterprise will support Ireland’s commitment to accomplishing 10 of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Deborah’s work in this area earned her a spot on the prestigious 2020 Forbes 30 under 30 list alongside activists like Greta Thunberg. ETF was the only female-led organisation in Ireland to make the list in 2020.

In 2022, Deborah Somorin launched the Chartered Accountants Ireland Ethnicity Network. Deborah also currently sits on the board of directors for Chartered Accountants Support (which supports members and students of Chartered Accountants Ireland) and the Chartered Accountants Ireland Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

Deborah won the JCI Dublin Ten Outstanding Young Persons award for 2018 and the JCI Ireland Ten Outstanding Young Persons award for 2018, both in the Humanitarian and/or voluntary leadership category. JCI is an international network for young leaders and John F. Kennedy was a member of the Irish branch. In 2019, Deborah was awarded the Inspiration Award by Chartered Accountants Ireland. She was also awarded, one of Fire Restaurants, Women of the Year for 2019, by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Nial Ring.